Electromagnetic clutching mechanism



Dec. 10, 1940.

J. CQTAL ELECTROMAGNETIC 'CLUTCHING MECHANISM Filed Sept 17, 1938 M I 1 w Patented Dec. 10, 1940 PATENT OFFICE ELECTROMAGNETIC CLUTCHING MECHANISM Jean Cotal,

Paris, France Application September 1'], 1938, Serial No. 230,507 In France September 25, 1937 2 Claims.

said faces is located an armature which is con-.-

nected with one of the driven shafts and which may be connected with the electromagnet by magnetic attraction and returned to the unclutching position by suitable spring means.

According to a further feature of my invention,

the entire. clutching mechanism is arranged in a tight casing which may serve as a driving flywheel'and is secured to the electromagnet.

Other and further features and objects of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the accompanying drawing and the following description wherein an exemplary embodiment is disclosed.

The single figure of the drawing is an axial sectional view of the clutch mechanism. 85

shaft I, which is supported for instance in a bearing 2, carries a casing consisting of two members 3 and 4, between which is located the ring 5 of an electromagnet. The ring 5 is provided with two windings 6 and l and comprises two corresponding driving faces 8 and 9. The current is supplied to these two windings 6 and 1 by two brushes l0 and II engaging conducting rings l2 and I3 which are mounted upon a cylinv drical extension ll of the casing member 4 from which they are electrically insulated.

Adjacent the driving face 8 of the electromagnet is mounted an armature l5 and an armature I6 is arranged adjacentthe driving face 9.

' These arniatures are connected by sliding couplings I1 and IS, with two respective coaxial driven shafts l9 and 20. The shaft i9 is solid;

and its end 2| is supported for example within the end of the driving shaft l; The second shaft 20 is tubular and is concentric with the shaft IS. The armatures i5 and it are separated from the electromagnet, in the uncoupled position, by springs 22 hearing against abutments such as 23. The clutching device operates preferably in oil and for this purpose, the members I and l which provide the casing may form a flywheel mounted in a non-leaking manner on the shaft 20 by means of the cylindrical extension it provided with a deflector 24. The casing member 4 is provided with two diametrically opposite radial In this embodiment, the end of the drivin passages 25 and 26, pierced with orifices 21 for communication with the interior of the casing. The conduit 25 or 2B which may be located at the top will serve for the filling, while the second conduit will serve to regulate the level of the oil by means of its orifice 21. The passages 25 and 26 extend beyond the orifices 21 in order to provide for the deposit of impurities, which are then projected to the exterior by centrifugal force when the apparatus rotates.

The combined casing and flywheel is with an emptying plug 28.

The operation is as follows: When the windin 6 is energized, the corresponding armature I5 is attracted and will drive the shaft l9. When the winding 1 is energized, the second armature i6 is attracted, and it effects the clutching of the shaft 20.

Among the uses of this double clutching device, mention may be made of driving receiver apparatus such as a vehicle transmission and the receiver apparatus may be directly coupled to one of the two shafts, IQ for instance, and indirectly to the second shaft by means of a mechanism such as a centrifugal force clutch.

The double electromagnetic clutching mechanism according to the invention provides for the coupling of either of the shafts I 9 and 2!], simply by the actuation of an electric control device which may depend upon an automatic regulator, such as a speed regulator. In this latter case, as the speed is on one side or the other of a predetermined limit, the current is supplied to the winding 6 or the winding 1, thus coupling the 35 0 provided shaft I! or the shaft 20.

Obviously, the invention is not limited to the embodiment and to the uses hereinbefore specifled, which are given solely by way ofexample.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v

i 1. In combination a driving shaft, two coaxial driven shafts in line with said driving shaft, one of said driven shafts surrounding the other driven shaft over an intermediate portionbetween the ends of said other driven shaft, on each of said driven shafts at the end adjacent said driving shaft an armature splined on said driven shaft, a magnetic'annular core disposed between said armatures and having two opp ite radial faces facing respectively said armatures, two windings each of which is countersunk in one of said radial faces and adapted when carrying electric current to cause the armature facing said radial face to be attracted by said core, a casing securedtosaiddrivingshaitandtosaideoreand forming an annular chamber enveloping the outer periphery and the lateral sides of said core and said armatures and adapted tocontain oil.

spring means adapted to urge said armatures away from said core, and means adapted to supply electric current-in said windings selectively and simultaneously, wherebysaid driven shafts may be driven selectively and simultaneously by said driving shaft at the same speed as said driving shaft.

zAcomhlnationaeeordingtociainiLin -which said casing is providedin at least one lateral wall with two diametrically opposite ra- JEAN corn. 1o 

